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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Wear of the spacecraft induced by plume of the Hall thruster is becoming a problem as well make bigger and more powerful Hall thruster systems. The Integrated Plume Shield blocks the portion of the plume that causes said wear from leaving the vicinity of the thruster, greatly reducing the amount and energy of the particles that can harm the rest of the spacecraft. This technology can be incorporated into the design of new thrusters or added as an attachment to existing thrusters.
Initial testing suggest 75% or more reduction in plume-induced wear to the sides of the thruster is achievable, which would enable a more compact spacecraft. Analysis based on a notional Mars vehicle design suggest 100's to 1000's of kilograms of mass saving. See DOI 10.2514/6.2024-1138 for more details.
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